Ryder Cup 2012: Ian Poulter out to kill American chances

Poulter out to kill the American dream as Ryder Cup tee-off grows ever closer

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UPDATED:

15:03 GMT, 26 September 2012

Deadly assassin: Ian Poulter has spoken of wanting to 'kill' the chances of his friends in the American team at the Ryder Cup

Ian Poulter has spoken of the strange rivalry between Europe and the United States in the Ryder Cup, as players who are usually 'great mates' go out to 'kill' one another's chances of glory.

Poulter is preparing for his fourth cap in Chicago this week and expects to be just as fired up as he was on his first three appearances.

Asked if he could see a future in which the match loses its edge because so many Europeans have homes in the States, the 36-year-old Florida-based Englishman gave the expected answer.

'It means too much to us for it ever to lose that edge,' he said.

'This event is unique. I hate to say we don't get on for three days, but there is that divide – and it's not that we don't like each other.

'We are all good friends, both sides of the pond, but there's something about Ryder Cup which kind of intrigues me.'

This time half of Europe's side – Poulter, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer – have bases in America, while Lee Westwood is soon to join them and world number one Rory McIlroy is selling his home in Northern Ireland, although he has no immediate plans to buy property on the other side of the Atlantic.

Poulter was also asked if captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who is expecting the crowds to be as noisy as they were in Boston in 1999 for the infamous 'Battle of Brookline', had spoken about toning down celebrations.

'Are you kidding me For real,' responded the man who won four points out of five four years ago and three points out of four last time in Wales.

'You are going to tell someone not to enjoy holing a putt That's the Ryder Cup, that's what it means.

'You should enjoy it. Why not give it the fist pump and see them go bananas

'It's like scoring a penalty in the Champions League final.'

Poulter's use of the words 'kill them' was put to McIlroy minutes later.